The Exciting Story of World War I Veterans' March on Washington!
What was the primary goal of the group of World War I veterans who marched on Washington?
A. Demanding payment of their war bonus
B. Seeking recognition for their services
C. Protesting against the military actions
Answer:
The primary goal of the group of World War I veterans who marched on Washington was A. Demanding payment of their war bonus.
The Bonus Army, comprising over 15,000 World War I veterans, marched on Washington in 1932 to demand early payment of their war bonuses. Their encampment led to violent clashes with the military upon President Hoover's orders, creating significant public outcry and contributing to governmental changes in the handling of veterans' benefits.
In 1932, amid the economic struggles of the Great Depression, over 15,000 World War I veterans converged on Washington, D.C., to demand the early payment of promised war bonuses. Known as the Bonus Army, these veterans set up sprawling encampments and pressed the government for immediate financial support. The situation escalated when President Herbert Hoover ordered the military to disperse the protesters, resulting in violent confrontations and widespread public disapproval of the government's handling of the situation.
The urgency of the veterans' demands was compounded by the severe economic hardships that many were experiencing. Despite the veterans' pleas and the establishment of Hoovervilles—makeshift shantytowns named mockingly after the president—both Hoover and his successor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, were initially resistant to the early bonus payment. The public outrage following the violent suppression of the Bonus Army contributed to President Hoover's defeat in the subsequent election, and in 1936, Congress overrode Roosevelt's veto to approve the early payment of the bonuses.
World War I veterans, their families, and sympathetic congressmen like Wright Patman and John Rankin were involved in this significant moment of civil protest. The events surrounding the Bonus Army are a stark reminder of the intersection between veterans' affairs, economic policy, and public sentiment in times of national crisis.